The “Prep”, the name by which everybody knows King Edward VII Preparatory School, is actually an older foundation than the school itself. No one is quite certain when it was established or who got it going, but it is known that it was in existence in 1902. In April 1902, then a private school for small boys and girls called St Augustine’s, it opened its doors for the first time in a wood and iron building situated on the site of the Old Swiss Mission Church in Doornfontein. In 1906, Miss Lilian Sprigg moved St Augustine’s, now a government school, from Doornfontein to a house in the vicinity of Johannesburg College. A very intriguing fact is that the first principal of the Prep was a woman. Miss Lilian Sprigg was born in Australia. This became the official feeder school for the High School in 1906 and moved into the present grounds of the King Edward VII High School in 1909.
The really close relationship between this school and the high school began when it was agreed in 1909 that the preparatory school should be allotted part of the new grounds on the Houghton Heights and be permitted to adopt the same title. This meant that King Edward’s was put in loco parentis to this junior establishment.
Miss Sprigg retired in 1916, and Mr H. A. Marshall was appointed Headmaster. He had been brought out to South Africa by Lord Milner and had been teaching at K.E.S. Under his guidance, the school started expanding. It rapidly outgrew its buildings, and so boys were taught at the High School, in St Mark’s Church, and even in a canvas classroom on the dusty playground. However, by 1927, all the classrooms had been built around the quadrangle. A Sports Master was appointed, and the future of the Prep as an excellent sporting school was on its way. Mr Marshall’s vision of a School Hall, however, remained a dream. After many trials and struggles, he eventually saw the blueprints in 1936 but unfortunately died before seeing the Hall completed.
Mr R. R. Nott followed as Headmaster for 14 years, and his dream was to have the grounds leveled and asphalted. This was only completed in 1949 as the war intervened. He retired in 1950. History was made when the first Old Boy, Mr Bob Green, was appointed as Headmaster from 1951 to 1965. He introduced the saying of the School Creed at Assembly, which is still said to this day as it embodies the spirit of the school. He was adamant that the Prep was not “K.E.P.S.” but insisted on the full name, feeling “keps” were worn on the head! His sudden death was a great loss to the school.
Mr Robinson was appointed Headmaster in 1966. He was untiring in his efforts to inculcate his love of English in the boys, teaching poetry throughout the school and encouraging the use of the library at all times. He reinstated the participation of sporting teams in various leagues, continuing to play against private schools and joining the Saturday league. Unfortunately, due to ill health, Mr Robinson had to take early retirement in 1979. Mr Foote acted as Headmaster until December 1980.
Mr Robinson was fortunate in having two exceptionally experienced “old hands” to assist him: Mr Reinecke and Miss K. M. Chamberlain as vice-principals. Miss Chamberlain, like Mr Reinecke, became a Prep institution. She spent 40 years at the Prep, guiding many of Johannesburg’s leading citizens on the path of knowledge. She was remembered for the first aid she rendered to the injured on many occasions, her proficiency a blessing to the hundred boys who came to her with broken collarbones, sprained ankles, and open wounds. She was appointed as a vice-principal in 1955.
In 1981, another Old Boy, Mr Evans, was appointed as Headmaster. He tackled many projects with great enthusiasm. Parents were encouraged to raise money for an enormous project: the school library, previously accommodated in an enlarged classroom and a prefab junior library, evolved into a Media Centre. A new complex was essential, and Mr Evans, with teachers and architects, visited many media centers, resulting in a fine Media Centre built on the junior playground. The old library became a well-equipped science laboratory. A separate Preparatory School magazine was introduced, becoming an invaluable reference over the years, as well as an entertaining and educational publication. In 1987, Tim Evans left the Prep to accept the post of Headmaster at St John’s Prep.
Mr Foote, the third Old Boy to become Headmaster, oversaw many exciting developments. The strength of the school has always been the wide variety of pupils admitted, a tradition that continued with boys of all races being welcomed. The school was made more aesthetically pleasing, and with the support of the governing body, computers were introduced along with a modern, state-of-the-art Computer Centre, fully utilized by staff and boys. More buildings appeared on the playground: new grade classes, a music room, an aftercare complex, a Grade 0 house, and a Design and Technology Centre. The newest of these, the Indoor Sports Centre, opened in 2011. However, these have not replaced the “temporary” prefabs erected in 1961! Mr Foote retired at the end of 2012 to enjoy a well-earned rest.
In 2013, Mr Shead became the Headmaster and instantly began updating and changing the lay of the land. He has continued the tradition of previous heads in insisting on high standards of education, morals, manners, and sportsmanship.
Remarkable Staff
Two remarkable women on the staff from 1912 to 1953 were Miss D. J. Ogilvie and Miss Kitty Oldroyd, remembered as tiny women with great dignity. Mrs G. H. Hibbins joined the staff in 1920 and served for 30 years. Other renowned women teachers at the Prep include Miss Con Lomax (24 years), Miss H. Kirkpatrick (24 years), Miss D Shaw (25 years), Miss Kate Eck (24 years), Miss D. Nicholson (25 years), Miss C. N. Smillie (23 years), Mrs M. D. Lamont (19 years), Miss P. Mylrea (36 years), Mrs J. Evans (20 years), and Mrs Rice.
Two modern and well-known women of K.E.P.S. still fill our corridors with their love for the languages they teach. Both starting in 1990, Ms A. Gray and Mrs C. Viljoen are the epitome of K.E.P.S. Mrs C. Viljoen can often be heard singing “Long live the King” with the junior boys joining her happily in chorus, while Ms Gray interacts happily in Afrikaans as she instructs the Grade 7s. Ms Gray resigned at the end of 2015 and will be sorely missed by boys and colleagues alike.
Reflections
As Charlie Mnyandu said after 40 years of service at the school: “The boys are the same; they were naughty in 1949, and they’re still naughty!” One guarantee is that they will continue to be naughty—but nice. That is the school’s aim: to produce children who can think for themselves and who know kindness is one of the greatest virtues.
In searching for an explanation of the unparalleled success of this preparatory school, one need look no further than the enthusiasm and devotion lavished upon it by its loyal staff—service of an exceptional kind that goes far beyond the call of duty. Happy is the school that can inspire such love in its staff, its old boys, and the parents of its pupils!
*Adapted from “Strenu – The Story of King Edward VII School” by A.P. Cartwright (1974) and Strenue News, Vol 7, No 1, April 1997.*
